Functional Foods - What Are They?

Functional or processed foods include those that provide additional nutrients - vitamins and minerals, compared to conventional foods.

Processed foods may contain large amounts of beneficial phytochemicals, bacteria and other nutrients that are not found in unprocessed foods.

In most cases, foods that are part of our daily menu are processed. For example, table salt is enriched with iodine, beans are enriched with iron and B vitamins. Orange juice is enriched with more vitamin C and calcium, and milk with additional amounts of calcium.

Functional foods are obtained by changing the way they are produced. For example, eggs enriched with omega-3 fatty acids are from hens whose diet is consistent with the purpose.

Tomatoes can be genetically engineered and thus enriched with useful phytochemicals. Such foods are classified as functional or processed.

At present, these foods are not subject to any special control regime. They are treated like any other food.

In the last few years, discussions have begun to increase their control - their use in pregnant women, children and the elderly, as well as the possibility of interactions with certain drugs.

Are functional foods good for health? Are there studies that support productive claims about their benefits? The answer to this question is: it depends on what food it is.

Yogurt . People have been consuming yogurt and other fermented dairy products for hundreds of years. It was only in the last century that attention began to be paid to the health benefits of yogurt, when the Russian microbiologist Ilya Mechnikov linked the life expectancy and health of the Bulgarian rural population and the consumption of yogurt.

Subsequent studies have shown that the lactic acid bacteria present in fermented products are responsible for the benefits of these products. This is how the probiotic industry was born.

Probiotics are live microorganisms that are found or added to fermented products - yogurt, cheese, butter, sour cream, etc. They have a beneficial effect on the activity of the stomach and intestines.

Disturbance of the balance between the bacteria in the intestine leads to health problems - diarrhea, constipation, indigestion, gas, etc. This is one of the reasons why probiotics have started to be added to some foods.

Prebiotics have also gained popularity as a food supplement. They are fibers that are found naturally in fruits and vegetables. They support the growth and development of "good" bacteria in our gut. Another of their functions is to improve intestinal peristalsis and to ensure regular intestinal emptying.

Many brands of yogurt have begun to add fiber to their composition, claiming that regular consumption reduces periods of constipation by between 10 and 40% in both men and women.

Eggs . The food that hens eat can change the quality of their eggs. By feeding the hens with food rich in omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin E, lutein, the hens give eggs rich in these nutrients. Such eggs can be twice as expensive as standard ones. And are they worth the price?

Undoubtedly, the intake of omega-3 fatty acids is good for our health. But whether the intake of eggs enriched with omega-3 is undoubtedly beneficial for us, has not yet been proven. The same goes for vitamin E or lutein.

Fat burning drinks . You may have noticed that this type of drink is available in every gym. Their manufacturers claim that they speed up the metabolism and help burn extra calories, and their effect lasts for several hours after consumption.

Manufacturers of such drinks claim that consuming them before training helps burn 100 extra calories. These claims have not been proven by official tests.

And are they safe? Most drinks contain large amounts of caffeine, which are definitely not recommended (some manufacturers reach amounts equal to 7.8 ken Coca Cola).

Are they worth the price? Most of these drinks are not very cheap. Drinking before fitness can significantly increase the cost of training. Maybe it's a better option to drink an aromatic coffee and start losing weight. It will be cheaper and the results will not be much different.

What do you think about functional foods? Are you ready to include them in your daily menu? Before you do, find out about the specific food, how safe it is and whether it is worth the price. And we as consumers can hope for stricter regulation of these special foods by the competent authorities.